Prepare for Lambing Season: A Guide to Ensuring the Health and Safety of Your Flock
Early lambing typically occurring from December to February is an important period for many UK sheep farmers, especially those in lowland regions. This practice is particularly common among flocks that aim to produce lambs for early spring markets, where demand for high-quality lamb is strong. Early lambing has significant economic benefits, but it also comes with distinct challenges due to the seasonal weather and management needs.
Shed Preparation
- Ventilation:
Maintaining proper air circulation is critical. A well-ventilated shed reduces the risk of respiratory issues like pneumonia, while avoiding cold drafts that can harm newborn lambs. Use sheeted doors to control airflow, allowing air to circulate above while shielding the animals at floor level. - Lighting:
Sufficient lighting helps with monitoring and encourages bonding between ewes and lambs. Reflective materials like galvanised hurdles can maximise natural light in the shed, creating a brighter, more welcoming environment. - Bedding:
Choose high-quality straw for its warmth and comfort, supporting the flock’s health and natural behaviors. Alternatives like woodchip or shavings can also be effective but ensure they are dry and hygienic. - Security:
Protect your shed from predators by installing gates with badger-proof flaps to prevent access under the barriers. Secure all entry points to keep your flock safe. - Cleanliness:
Start with a clean slate by disinfecting the shed with DEFRA-approved products. Regularly clean lambing pens between occupants, opting for easily sanitised materials like galvanised hurdles over wood, which can harbor bacteria.




Essential Tools and Equipment
- Lambing Pens:
Individual pens allow ewes to bond with their lambs after birth, fostering maternal instincts and ensuring proper feeding. -
Feeding Solutions:
Provide enough feeding space for group pens, with a recommended 450mm–600mm per ewe. Feed hurdles and walk-through feeders can help streamline feeding while keeping forage accessible. -
Lamb Adopters:
Support bonding in cases where ewes need encouragement, particularly first-time mothers. Adopters are a valuable tool to ensure lambs are accepted and cared for. -
Hay Baskets:
Keep forage off the ground in individual pens with dual-sided hay baskets, simplifying feeding rounds and maintaining hygiene.
Get Ahead for a Successful Season
Success in early lambing requires careful planning and rigorous management. Ewes are typically tupped (mated) in late summer or early autumn to ensure lambing takes place during the winter months. This necessitates a controlled environment, as natural fertility rates in sheep decline outside of their usual breeding season. To overcome this, many farmers use techniques such as hormonal treatments or teaser rams to bring ewes into heat.
Housing is a critical factor for early lambing flocks. Lambing sheds need to be well-ventilated but warm and dry to protect newborn lambs from cold stress and hypothermia, common issues in the UK’s wet and chilly winters. Straw bedding, heat lamps, and individual lambing pens are frequently used to create a comfortable environment.
Feeding is another key consideration. Pregnant ewes require a diet rich in energy and protein during the final weeks of gestation to support the growth of lambs and prepare for lactation. Silage, hay, and supplementary feeds are commonly used, and many farmers closely monitor ewe body condition to prevent complications such as twin lamb disease.